Filling-feeler mechanism for looms



i A Jan. w, 1923. .A Si S. JACKSON. 1,4 2,57- F1 L1. NG FEELER MECHANI5M FOR Looms. F|LED OCT. 30, 1920.

2 sHEETssHeET 2 X720 af @522655: fgmw S. 9mm 67 dr 0 zweeg.

Patented slan.. lr6, 1923..

PATENT SIMEON S. JACKSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGN- IEENTS,v TO THE STAFFORD COMPANY, OF READVILLE, BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS,

A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

FLLING-FEELER ll/[ECHANISM FOR LOOIVIS.

Application filed October 30, 1920.

To @ZZ 107mm. t may cont/eww Be it known that I, Simeon S. J AonsoN, asubject o: l.fl-reat Britain, residing at Hyde Park, Boston, in thecounty of Suffolk, State of hlassachusetts, have invented a certain newand useful Improvement in Fillinglieeler Mechanisms for Looms, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings. rlhe invention has relation to the so-callediilling-fceler mechanisms which are employed in looms for the purpose ofdetecting when the shlittle-contained supply of weft or lilling hasbecome depleted to the predetermine l extent, and thereupon bringingabout action to forestall delivery of the .last end of 'the said supplyfrom the shuttle, so as to avoid production of a short pick in the clothbeing woven, which would render the -cloth defective.

A lilling-feeler mechanism comprises, ordinarily, a weft orilling-feeler, and in conjunction therewith devices which under the`governance of the lilling-feeler are instrumental in bringing about theaction aforesaid, (in some cases automatic replenishment of theweft-supply; in others, stoppage o f the loom), and a so-calledcontroller located intermediate the lillil'ig-feeler and the saiddevices, itself governed by the flling-feeler, and in turn controllingthe said devices.

The invention is applicable to fillingfeeler mechanisms. of the classprovided with side-slipping feeler devices, i. e., feeler devicescharacterized by a laterally-movable feeler member which, by engagementof the shuttle-contained supply of weft or filling therewith at the timeof each successive feeling action, is held from lateral movement, thatis to say is held from movement longitudinally of the weft orfilling-carrier oc:- cupying the shuttle, until the remaining portion ofthe said supply is too small to prevent such movement, at which stage inthe depletion of the supply the laterally-movable feeler member isdisplaced in the direction oi' the length of the shuttle-contained weftor filling-carrier at the time. of a feeling action and as a result ofsuch displacement the change is called. The general class ofside-slipping feeler devices comprises t-wo types of such devices, toeither of which the present invention is applicable. These two tvpesare, first, the type in which the tend- Serial No. 420,658.

ency of the feeler member to slip or move laterally results fromforwardly-directed contact-pressure acting against a laterally offsetfeeling end or tip; and second, the type in which the tendency of thefeeler member to move laterally is dueto the application of the yieldingforce of a. spring or other convenient means at the time of the feelingaction.

The general object of the invention is to provide improved means foroperatively combining and connecting together a sideslipping feelerdevice which moves forward and rearward in the feeling action, and acont-roller for the devices through which a change is called in theaction of the loom.

The invention consists in connecting and combining means comprising,essentially, a lever which is operatively engaged with the controller,and a link which constitutes a direct connection between the lever andthe feeler member and swings in unison with the reciprocating forwardand rearward movements of the latter. and through which the feelermember in slipping sidewise actuates the lever to bring about the actionof the controller by which the devices through which the change iscalled are made operative to call a change.

The drawings `show an illustrative embodiment of the invention in a formof feeler-mechanism having a` side-slipping feeler device of the typefirst mentioned. The application of the features of the invention inconnection with feeler devices of the second type referred to will beobvious to those skilled in the art.

In the drawings,-

Fig. l` is a top` view of certain parts at one side of a loom, includinga side-slipping filling-feeler of the first type, mounted in operativeposition upon its stand at the corresponding end of the breast-beam, theparts being shown in their normal positions.

Fig. 2 is a partly sectional side elevation said parts.

l* 3 is a front view of the feelcr device and associated parts, andtheir supports, of Figs. l and 2.

The different views of the drawings show only small portions of thebreast-beam l and lay-beam 2 of a loom, 3 being the front-plate of theshuttle-box upon the end of the latter which is adjacent thefeder-mechanism, and

l a shuttle occupying the said shuttle-box. The said trent-plate and thefront-wall ot the shuttle have the usual openings 3, 4a, to permitentrance of the contact-portion or tip 11 of the feeler device as thelay beats up, to provide for contact between the said contact-portion ortip 11 and the filling-mass 6 upon the filling-carrier 7 occupying theshuttle.

The eeler device shown in `the drawings comprises, as heretofore in somecases, a carrier-member 8 that is movable Jforwardly and rearwardly inthe loom, and a ieeler member 9 that is mounted upon a pivotal stud 10on the said carrier-member with capacity for transverse movement in ahorizontal plane and has a rearwardly projecting contact-portion 11, thefilling-engaging end 11 of which is offset laterally with relation tothe pivot 01"' the feeler member. To this lateral offsetting is due thetendency of the feeler member to swing around its pivot under theforwardly acting pressure of the shuttle-contents against itscontact-portion in a feeling action.

The carrier-member 8 is in the usual form of a slide working in aguideway at 12 upon a small stand 12 attached to the outer end of a mainsupporting stand 13 extending outward from the breast-beam. Atorwardly-extending reduced extension 8 ot the slide works in a holethrough an up standing portion 12" of the forward part ot stand 12. Acap or cover-plate 12C, bridging the guideway and holding the slide downtherein, is secured in place by screws 12d, 12d. Other forms of'carrier-member and supporting means therefor known in the art areadapted to be employed.

rl`he spring-tension by which the carriermember is held normally in itsrearward position, and by which it is returned to that position afterhaving been pushed forward in a feeling action by the pressure ot theshuttle-contents against the end 11n ot' the feeler member, is appliedby means of a-n expanding spiral spring 8l surrounding the reducedforward extension of the slide between the body of the slide andtheupstanding` portion 12b of stand 12. The spring, as usual, yields topermit the forward movement of the teeler device that is caused bypressure of the shuttle-contained iilling-mass against thefilling-engaging end. or tip ol' the teeler member at the 'time of afeeling action, and then returns the teeler device rearwardly to itsnormal position as the lay moves rearwardly.

The controller ot this embodiment ot the invention is of the preferredforni, namely a rocking controller comprising a rockshat't 14 that isjournaled in bearings 1l, leb.

with which the main supporting stand'l provided, and an arm 15 fixedupon the inner end of the said rockshaft and connect-- ing with thedevices through which a change in the operation ot the loom is called.The said rockshaft extends in a transverse direction from the outboardposition which the lilling-teeler is required to occupyi to the inboardposition of the devices through which a change is called, with its outerend operatively rela-ted with the lilling-feeler devices and its innerend operatively related by means of the arm 15 with the devices by whichthe change is called. rllhe drawings show the latter devices as ofcustomary character comprising alatch or dog 18 piv-v otally connectedwith an upstanding arm 19 of the usual controlling rockshat 20, the saidcontrolling rockshat't 20 in practice being connected operatively withthe replenishing or stopping instrumentalities ot' the loom. ln thisinstance the arm 15 carries a pin 16 which works in a slot 17 extendinglengthwise of the latch or dog 18. The engagement or' the tooth 18L1 ofthe latch or dog 18 by the shoulder 211L ot the vibrating wett-hammer orgooseneck 21 is controlled through the agency of the rocking controller.Normally, the controller holds the latch or dog clear of the path of theshoulder 21a. This result is secured in the present instance through theaction ot a spiral spring 22, surrounding the controller-rockshatt andhaving one end thereotl engaged with the adjacent stand-bearing 14: andthe other end engaged with a collar 23 fixed by means of a binding screwupon the controller-rockshat't. The said spring operates torsionallywith a tendency to keep the controller-rockshafl; rocked into a positionin which its arm and pin hold the latch or dog 1S elevated clear or themoving wett-hammer or gooseneck. The tension ot the spring may be variedby adjustment of 'the collar around the rockshatt. Other arrangements ofdevices in connection with a controller, for calling a change, are knownin the art. Referring now to the link 30 and lever 28 by which accordingto the present invention the side-slipping teeler member' and therocking controller are operatively combined and connected with eachother,

The link extends transversely of the loom from the side-slipping eelermember to the lever and is engaged with the latter at a point at oneside ot the said eeler-device. The lever engages with a projecting armor linger Q5 carried by the controller-roclishatt. Normally, the tensionot the controller'- spring 2&2, acting with a tendency to rock thecontroller, causes arm or linger to act upon lever 28 so as byend-thrust ot the link $30 to hold the feeler member laterallv in itspresentation-position, which in this iristance is determined by a stop9b upon carrier S.

1n the illustrated embodiment, the outer end ot the link is connectedpivotally to an lll') arm or crank 9 of the feeler member, .located infront of the pivot Yl0 of said mem` ber, so that the said end-thrusttends to turn the teeler member around its pivot until the said arm orcrank makes lateral Contact with stop 9b.

rlhe linlr 30 swings idly forward and rearward around its point ofpivotal connection with the arm 281 of the lever in the Jfeelingactionsduring the normal working oit the 'eeler-deviccgprior tosubstantial exhaustion ot' the shuttle-contained supply ot wett orfillino. lt is of suflloient length to permit the torward and rearwardworking strokes or the ifeeler-device7 caused by thefcontact of theshuttle contents with the contact-portion or tip ll of theizeeler-device, to take place without any or material swinging movementof @the lever 28, and consequently without causing thecontroller-roclshaft to turn so as to permit the latch or dog 18 tobecome engaged by the weft-hammer or gooseneclr 2l. llllhenVhowever,sidewise movement of the Yeeler-member is produced in consequence oli'the depletion of the supply or weft or filling within the shuttle, thismovement` transmitted through the lin\30 to the lever 2S turns thelatter around its pivot sufficiently to actuate the controller so as bythe rocking movement of the latter thereby produced to place the` latchor dog 18 in position to be engaged by the shoulder 2la of theweft-hammer or goosenecl. rlhrough such engagement, the latch or dog ismoved and the roclvshaflt 20 is rocked so as to call a change in theworking of the loom.

As will be apparent from the foregoing, the connections comprising thelever 28 and the link 3() extending transversely between the said leverand the pivoted feeler member not only enable the spring 22 surroundingthe controller-rockshaft to hold the eeler member normally in itsregular present-ation position7 but also serve to enable the 'leelermember to act-nate the controller so as to roc-lr the latter to call achange in the working ot the loom when sidewise movement of the:l'eeler-member takes place in a Yfeeling action.

ln this embodiment 0f the features of the invention7 the lever 28 isarranged to swing in a horizontal plane around its pivot 29, vhich is ascrew that passes through an inward extension ot cover-plate l2C intothe outer portion of stand l51 and the arm or linger 25 projectsupwardly from the con trollerrocl shaft lfb the arm 28L of the leverbeing extended transversely outward iiior engagement with the toiwvardside of the said arm or linger 25. and the second arm 28" being extendedrearward from the pivot of the lever.

l have shown and described the best 'form ol: embodiment of the featuresof the invention that has thus far been devised by me,

but in practice the form and arrangement of parts may be varied more orless from what is shown in the drawings.

`What l claim is,-a

l. ln a filling-'lieder mechanism Afor looms, the combination with aside-slipping iceler member that moves forwardly and rearwardly in thereeling action, devices that call a change in the action el? the loom,and a controller lor the seid devices, ot connecting and combiningvdevices comprising, cs sentially7 a ever un ch operatively cngaged withsaid. controller, and a linlr tween the lever and the licelcr memberwhich swings in unison with the recijllirocatino 'torward and rearwardmovements of the latter7 actuated longitudinally by the 'eeler member inslipping sidewise and through such longitudinal fmovcinent actuating thelever to bring about the action ol the controller by which the devicesthrough which the change is called are made oyerative to call a change.

2. The combi-nation with a. f eier-device comprising a side-slippingYleeler member which recigrocates forwardly and rear wardly in thefeeling action, a nd a movable controller Yfor the change-calling means7of a transversely-movable controlling lever for said controller, and alink extending tra-nsversely from said eeler member to said lever,pivotally connected with the lever at a point et one side ot 'theeeler-device,

swinging orward and rearward around said point in the normal working oithe 'leelerH device7 and in case oi? sii'le-slipping ol the 'ieelermember moved eodwise and thereby caused to actuate the said lever tobring` about the calling` ci the change.

The combination with a freeler-device comprising a side-slipping Afeelermember and a movable carrier therefor, and a movable controller for thechange-calling means, oi'' a transversely-movablo controlling lever forsaid controller, and alinl extending transversely Afrom said teelermember to said lever., pivotallv connected with the lever point at oneside of the freeler-device, swinging` forward and rearward around saidpoint in the normal working` of the leclerdevice, and in case ofside-slipping` et the feelersmember moved endwise anu thereby caused toactuate the said lever to bring about the calling` oi the change.

Ll. The combination with a feeler-device comprising a side-slippinoAl'ecler member which reciprocates 'forwardly and rearwardly in thefeeling action` and a rocking controller for the changer-idling mea s.ot a 'transversely movable controllinglei. er tor said controllerT and alink extendin transversely Ytrom Said A'Eeeler member to said level:pivot-ally connected to the lever at a point one side of the'feelendevice swine'- ing` forward and rearward around said point liloin the normal working1 o'l? the 'feeler-clevice, and in rase orside-Slipping of the feeler member moved enclwise eo as to actuate theseid lever and thereby roch the controller to call the change.

rlhe combination with a l'eeler-cleviee comlgrirising a slcle-elipliingfeeler member :and a movable Carrier therefor, and a rocking` controllerfor the change-calling means7 L reverselv movable controlling lever of at for said eamtroller7 and a linl extending transvers from said feelermember to sai-l lever, pivotally connected to the lever at a point atone eide of me feeler-devce, swinging forward and rearward around saidpoint in the normal working of the eelerdevice, and in :fase ofside-elippln of the ileeler member moved enclwise so as to actuate theSaid lever and thereby rofl the Controller to call the change.

G. The combination with a freeler-device Comprising a eide-Slippingfeeler member and a movable carrier therefor, and a mov able Controllerfor the change-Calling means, of a controlling lever for said controllertransversrelyY movable in a horizontal plane, and a link extendingtransversely from said foeler member to said lever, pvotally con neo-tedwith the lever at a point at one side ol' the feeler-clevice7 swingingforward and rearward around said point. in the normal Working of thefeeler-clevce7 and in case of side-slipping of the feeler member movedenflivise and thereby caused to aetuate the Said lever to bring aboutthe calling of the rhange. Y

7. The Combination with the roekehaft or a yieldingly-aetuatedcontroller forming an element oit the devices for calling a change in'the operation of a loom, and a "freeler-device Comprising a movablecarrier-member and a Sideelippng feeler member pivotecl thereon, ofconnections through which said leeler member and the Controllerreciprocally control each other comprising a horizon'tally swinging;lever engaging an arm upon said `controllereroclehafft, and atransversely-extending swinging link connecting said feeler member tosaid lever.

ln testimony whereol:l I aiiix my signature in presence of tvvo-Witnesses.

SMEON S. JACKSON.

l/Vitnesses Cries. F. RANDALL, ELLEN O. SPRING.

